Beyoncé on her new album: "I was really nervous because this was a huge risk"

Beyonce has reveleaed she was "really nervous" about the surprise release of her self-titled LP because "it was a huge risk", reports US News.

The singer's fifth album was released last week (December 13) and has already sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Yesterday (December 21), she answered fans' questions via her Instagram account at a screening for the record's accompanying music videos.

"I was terrified. I was so scared. I already envisioned like the worst things that could happen," Beyoncé revealed before moving on to discuss the more personal side to the album. "I'm very private and I'm very respectful, and I think it just took me no longer being someone's child — once I became a mother, I felt like I could tear those fourth walls and I just felt like it was time. I completely feel liberated."

Speaking about the album's unconventional release, she explained it was a result of being bored after her last release, 2011's '4'. "Honestly I was at a point where I felt like, you know, everything feels the same," she said. "That's how I felt and if I could not challenge that, then maybe it's time for me to do something else or develop more artists, which is something I want to do. I just hope that I continue to move forward and challenge myself, and I think now that I've become a mother, I just want my legacy to inspire people."

Meanwhile, major retailers such as Amazon and American company Target are refusing to stock 'Beyoncé' after it was released exclusively on iTunes. The digital giant were given a one week exclusive window to sell the 14-song, 17-video album, which features contributions from Drake, Jay Z and Justin Timberlake.

Announcing their decision to not stock 'Beyoncé', Target spokesperson Erica Julkowski said: "While there are many aspects that contribute to our approach and we have appreciated partnering with Beyoncé in the past, we are primarily focused on offering CDs that will be available in a physical format at the same time as all other formats. At this time, Target will not be carrying Beyoncé's new self-titled album."